Iethod of and apparatus for



(No Model.)

D. J. CAMPBELL. METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING GIGARBTTBS. No. 579,422. Patented Mar. 23, 1897.

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DANIEL J. CAMPBELL, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN TOBACCO COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

METHOD F AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING CIGARETTES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 579,422, dated March 23, 1897.

Application filed March 30, 1896.

To all whom it nuty concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL J. CAMPBELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Making Cigarettes, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same. v

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of and apparatus for manufacturing cigarettes of substantially elliptical form in cross-section, which form fits better between the lips and avoids the necessity of moistenin g and flattening the ends, as in the ordinary cylindrical cigarettes.

The handmade elliptical cigarettes now well, known are exceedingly expensive and have,

moreover, proved to be defective in some respects, especially in that the filler is liable to be more or less broken in flattening them by hand from the cylindrical to elliptical form,

and the tobacco does not fill the paper tube as closely as desired.

I am enabled to make an improved elliptical cigarette which avoids the objections to such handnnade elliptical cigarettes by first molding the tobacco directly into a continuous rod elliptical in cross-section and then forming a continuous elliptical paper tube inclosing said rod and maintaining the tobacco under compression in its elliptical form during and after the folding and securing of the wrapper, thereby forming a continuous cigarette-rod of substantially elliptical shape in cross-section, which is subsequently divided into proper lengths to form commercial cigarettes.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, I have shown such parts of a cigarette-machine of the preferred form for carrying out my method as are necessary to illustrate the invention, and a full description thereof will now be given, and the method and features of construction forming the invention will then be specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of those parts of the apparatus operating directly on the rod and wrapper to form the continuous cigarette-rod. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged Serial No. 585,339. (N6 model.)

side view of the wrapping-tube from the side opposite that shown in Fig. 1, with the tube partly broken away to show the construction. Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 are cross-sections on, respectively, the lines 4, 5, -6, and 7 of Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 8 shows one of the many modifled forms of apparatus that may be used to carry out my improved method. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the cigarette.

The invention is illustrated in Figs. 1 to '7 as applied in connection with a machine similar to the well-known Bonsack machine, only those parts being shown that are required for explanation of the present invention. The construction shown in these figures employs a wrapping-tube by which the tobacco is molded to form a continuous elliptical filler- 7o rod and the wrapper folded about the fillerrod and pasted to form a continuous elliptical cigarette-rod, which is then cut into cigarette-lengths by any suitable mechanism, the wrapper and filler being carried through the wrapping-tube by a continuous belt and the tobacco being fed to the wrapping-tube by devices of any suitable form. In the construction shown the feeding devices for the tobacco consist of two side belts a, passing around horizontal wheels A, and bottom belt b, passing around vertical wheel B, these wheels being set at the proper distance apart to secure the partial compression and advance of the tobacco and a grooved vertical wheel 8 5 C being mounted above and coacting with the belt I) and wheel B to press down the top of the tobacco as it is advanced between the wheels A B C and secure its proper feed to the wrapping-tube, this wheel C preferably 0 being grooved, as shown, so as to curve the top of the tobacco to some extent and thus aid in reducing it to elliptical form. These. wheels with the belts may all be driven by any suitable means, such as are well-known 5 and require no illustration. The tobacco is advanced by the wheels and belts above described between guides cl to the wrappingtube D, which is supported in any suitable manner just above and in advance of the too bottom belt I), and through which wrappingtube runs the continuous belt 6, carrying the wrapper 00, with the tobacco filler thereon, through the tube to form the continuous cigarette X.

The wrapping-tube D is shown as having at its rear end the usual curved support 10, over which the tobacco and wrapper are advanced to the bottom or trough plate 11, and having the usual side guides 1 for the opposite edges of the wrapper. Above the curved trough-plate 11, on which the belt supports and carries the wrapper with the tobacco thereon, is suspended by arm 3, as usual in such constructions, plate 12, narrower than the trough formed by the plate 11, so that the edges of the wrapper and belt may run between the plates 11 12, and this plate 12 is inclined so as to compress the tobacco, and the two plates 11 12 formed so as to mold the tobacco to a filler-rod of substantially elliptical form in cross-section, as shown in Fig. 4, the top plate 12 at this point having a flat curve 011 its under face and the bottom of the trough-plate 11 forminga flat curve, as shown in this figure.

From the end of the plate 12 extends the wrapping-chamber, which is formed by the trough-plate 11 and an overhanging flange 13 thereon, the bottom of the chamber being formed with a fiat curve and the flange 13 having its under face similarly curved, so as to hold the filler-rod received from the plate 11 in elliptical form, while at the same time the flange 13 turns down one side of the belt with the Wrapper cc, so as to form an elliptical wrapper-tube inclosin g the filler-rod,the other edge of the wrapper and belt lying against the upturned pasting flange or abutment i on the opposite side of the tube, as shown in Fig. 5, this upturned edge of the wrapper being supported and held in proper position for pasting by the arm 8, as usual in such constructions, the paste being shown as applied by a horizontally-rotating paste-wheel E, fed by a paste-supply wheel F, fed in any suitable manner, as usual in this class of machines.

Beyond the point at which the paste is applied the belt and the pasted edge of the wrapper are turned in by the curve of the flange 4 and the lapping-point 5 at the end of the flange, as usual in such constructions, and the wrapper closed completely down by the belt passing under the end 7 of a flange 14, extending over the trough-plate from the side of the tube opposite that at which flange 13 was formed, so as to bring the pasted edge of the wrapper down upon the opposite edge just in advance of the point 5, where the flange 13 is cut away to permit it, and thus close and seal the wrapper-tube, the unpasted edge of the wrapper being held in position to form the elliptical wrapper-tube with the elliptical filler-rod therein by the flange 13, as shown in Fig. 6. Beyond this point at which the wrapper-tube is closed and sealed, so as to form the complete continuous elliptical cigaretterod, the flange 14 extends over the top of the trough-plate, so as to press the belt down and hold the cigarette-rod in form, the flat curve of the bottom plate 11 being continued and the flange 1 1 having a similar curve on its under side, so as to form an elliptical tube by which the cigarette-rod is held under pressure in its elliptical shape after the pasting of the wrapper-strip, producing a cigarette-rod of permanent elliptical form with the tobacco tightly fitting the paper tube, which cigarette-rod is then cut into cigarette-lengths by any suitable cutting devices, such as are in common use, forming cigarettes such as shown in Fig. 9.

It will be understood that the cigarette maybe made by many other devices than those shown. For instance, if it be desired to mold the filler to elliptical form before it reaches the wrapper and belt, suitable devices of many known forms may be used for this purpose, one of which is shown in Fig. 8, in which the tobacco passes either from the belts a Z) and wheel 0, previously described, or from other, suitable tobacco-feeding devices between two horizontal wheels G, provided with grooves of such form that the wheels mold the tobacco passing between the wheels to a continuous filler-rod substantially elliptical in cross-section, bottom and top belts g h or other suitable devices being used above and below the wheels to complete the molding-chamber and hold the tobacco in place, as usual in such constructions. From such or any similar filler-molding devices the filler-rod may pass to the wrapping-tube shown or to a wrapping-tube or other wrapping devices of any suitable form by which the elliptical flllenrod will be held in form and inclosed in a wrapper to form a continuous elliptical cigarette-rod.

By the method above described, by which the filler is reduced to substantially elliptical cross-sectional form before inclosing it in the wrapper and then folding the wrapper around the rod and to the same form and holding them both under pressure until the edges are permanently secured together, I am enabled to produce elliptical cigarettes at much less expense and of better quality than hand-made elliptical cigarettes.

It will be understood that my invention is not limited to any of the special tobaccomolding and wrapper-forming devices herein shown and described, although certain features thereof form parts of the invention, but that the invention, broadly considered, may be embodied in constructions of various forms and securing the wrapper by different means.

The cigarette herein shown and described is claimed in another application, Serial No. 585,338, filed March 30, 1896.

hat I claim is- 1. The herein-described improvement in the art of making elliptical cigarettes, the same consisting in reducing a mass of tobacco to the form of a continuous rod elliptical in cross-section, molding a wrapper-strip about the continuous rod to form a continuous elliptical tube inclosing the rod, and securing the edges of the wrapper, the tobacco being maintained under compression in its elliptical shape during the Wrapping and molding of the paper strip and until the edges are permanently secured together, substantially as described.

2. The herein-described improvement in the art of making elliptical cigarettes, the same consisting in reducing a mass of tobacco directly to the form of a continuous rod elliptical in cross-section, in molding a wrapper-strip into a continuous elliptical tube, and inclosing the rod therein, the tobacco being maintained under compression in its elliptical shape during and after the wrapping, molding and pastingof the paper strip, substantially as described.

8. The combination with means for feeding a continuous row of tobacco, of devices for operating upon the tobacco to convert it into a continuous rod elliptical in cross section, means for applying a strip of wrapper-paper to the rod and for forming the paper into a tube elliptical in cross-section, and securing the edges of the wrapper-strip, and means for maintaining the rod under compression in its elliptical shape during the folding and securing of the wrapper-strip, substantially as described.

4. The combination with means for feeding a continuous row of tobacco, of devices for operating upon the tobacco to convert it into a continuous rod elliptical in cross section, means for applying a strip of wrappenpaper to the rod, and for forming the paper into a tube elliptical in cross-section, and means for maintaining the rod under unyielding compression in its elliptical shape during and after the folding and pasting of the strip, substantially as described.

5. The combination with devices for feeding a continuous row of tobacco and converting it into a continuous rod elliptical in crosssection, of a wrapping-chamber beyond the devices having a bottom with a flat curve and an overhanging flange with its under face similarly curved, and a feeding-belt traveling through said chamber, substantially as described.

6. AWrapping-tube for cigarette-machines in which the wrapping-chamber has a bottom formed with a flat curve and an overhanging flange with its under face similarly curved to form a tube of substantially elliptical crosssection, substantially as described.

7. The combination with means for feeding a continuous row of tobacco, of plates 11, 12 having their walls curved to convert the tobacco into a continuous rod elliptical in crosssection, and a wrapping-chamber having opposite sides formed with flat curves to form a continuous elliptical wrapper-tube inclosing the tobacco rod, and a feeding-belt traveling between said plates and through the chamber, substantially as described.

8. A wrapping-tube for cigarette-machin es, having the plates 11, 12, the walls of which are curved to form tobacco into a continuous rod elliptical in cross-section and a wrappingchamber having opposite sides formed with flat curves to form a continuous elliptical Wrapper-tube inclosing the tobacco rod, substantially as described.

9. Awrappingtube for cigarette-machines, having the plates 11, 12, the walls of which are curved to form tobacco into a continuous rod elliptical in cross-section and a wrappingchamber having opposite sides formed with flat curves: to form a continuous elliptical wrapper-tube inclosing the tobacco rod, said tube being extended in elliptical form beyond the point where the edges are pasted together to hold the cigarette-rod under compression, substantially as described.

10. A wrapping-tube for cigarette-machines having the bottom or trough plate 11 formed with a flat curve, inclined plate 12 within the trough having its under face similarly curved to form the tobacco into a continuous rod substantially elliptical in cross-section, an overhanging flange 13 in advance of the plate 12 with its under face similarly curved to hold the tobacco rod in elliptical shape and turn one edge of the wrapper over it, and a flange on the opposite side of the tube from flange 13 constructed to fold the pasted edge of the Wrapper down and forming with the bottom plate a substantially-closed tube of elliptical cross-section beyond the point where the tube is sealed, substantially as described.

11. Awrapping-tubeforcigarette-machines having a wrapping-chamber formed by the bottom or trough plate 11 With a flat curve, and overhanging flange 13 with its under face similarly curved to hold the tobacco rod in elliptical shape and turn one edge of the wrapper over it, and. a flange on the opposite side of the tube from flange 13 constructed to fold the pasted edge of the wrapper down, and a substantially-closed tube of elliptical cross-section beyond the point where the tube is sealed, substantially as described.

12. A wrapping-tube for cigarette-machines, having the converging plates 11, 12, said plates being formed with flat curves on their adjacent faces, and a wrapping-cham her having opposite sides formed with flat curves to form a continuous elliptical wrapper-tube inclosing the tobacco rod, substantially as described.

13. The combination with devices for feeding a continuous row of tobacco and convert ing it into a continuous rod elliptical in crosssection, of a wrapping chambcr having opposite sides formed with flat curves to form a continuous elliptical wrapper-tube inclosing the tobacco rod, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DANIEL J. CAMPBELL. lVitnesses: JosIAn T. WILcoX, E. T. SMITH.

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